I was leafing through a magazine when I came across this really interesting piece of information. According to the National Association of Realtors, 49% of buyers form their opinions about the property as soon as they see it from the street. That’s where their decision is made. Isn’t it amazing how a yard can make or break a deal?
How to best use your yard stumps a lot of people. Not because they don’t know how, but because there’s just so much choices available. Front yards are especially a challenge, because they frame the house. The yard, from its layout to its landscape, must match the style and look of the house.
These days, homeowners are busy visiting garden centers for landscaping ideas for small yards. They’re in their local Home Builders Centers buying pavers, gravel, lawn mowers and a hundred other items for do it yourself landscaping. And of course, the internet is the best resource to contact plant growers and seeds companies so that flower bed plans and garden bed plans see fruition, from concept and layout to actual flowers and vegetables!
So, what is the best way to use your yard? First, determine how big your yard is. Second, decide whether you want to go the do it yourself landscaping route or if you want to contact a professional garden designer for landscaping ideas for small yards. Chances are, you’ll learn a lot from consulting with a professional, even if you have to eventually do them yourself. Also, what are he needs of the family? Beyond aesthetics, you must consider what will make your family members happy!
Do you have small children? Then perhaps the best way to use your yard is having a play set for them. Even a sandbox! Imagine that! A small little park for the kids in the yard. Oh, your yard will be the hot spot for young mothers like yourself!
Or perhaps you want a quiet corner to meditate, relax and just feel renewed. A friend of mine had a daughter who had to move home after an accident. She consulted a landscaper and was told by him, “use your yard by making a section devoted to having a koi pond for your daughter!” And it worked! She has now a koi pond, trees, a pergola and a sitting area. And in the afternoons, it’s the most peaceful section of the yard. Perfect for her daughter’s recuperation!
So, lets get down on the things you can do to use your yard efficiently:
Plan to create an outdoor space. Whatever your theme is. If you go online and look for landscaping ideas for small yards, all experts will say that scale matters! Big pieces on a small yard will not have the balance you want to achieve. So do it right. Do not McMansion the yard! But… this is important… make it organic. No pesutcides! Now chemical fertilizers. Only natural, organic growing works.
Clean it up. Yes, the first thing you need to do to best use your yard is to clean it up. Whatever landscaping ideas for small yards you have or if you’re planning a do it yourself landscaping project, a clean and organized yard is a must. Pull out the weeds, trim the grass and hedges and remove anything that you have dumped there the last few years.
Do a layout. Put it on paper or a computer program. Add life and color to your yard with a few strategically placed flowering plants with garden bed plans or flower bed plans. Go with either perennials or annuals depending on the season using raised bed garden plans. Flowering plants, instantly add color to the space and makes it look more welcoming.
Make your yard productive! Another great way on how to best use your yard is to set a corner and make it an organic vegetable garden. Use those garden bed plans and those flower bed plans you’ve been drawing for years now. Start your own little organic farm by planting easy to grow vegetables that you can easily use in your cooking. Zucchini, green peppers and tomatoes can easily be grown in the yard. Plant some vegetables in pots. I have a friend who planted lettuce and tomatoes in those big terra cotta pots and the whole summer, she had wonderful vegetables for salads!
Let children be children by making the yard their own mini playground. Another way on how to best use your yard is to set up a play space for your young children. Make it a place for them to discover and explore! Set up a sandbox. Build a tree house. Have a play set or jungle gym installed. During the summer, put up an inflatable pool. A swing will definitely add to the fun. And to make playtime more fun, just add water. Make sure there’s easy access to a faucet so you ca set up a sprinkler for them on hot days! But whatever you do, if kids are involved, remember, safety first!
And lastly, be sure to have some weather resistant furniture so you can enjoy nice summer afternoons or have a place to relax and unwind during the day. Keep these ideas in mind when you’re figuring out how to best use your yard and you’ll have years and years of enjoyment!
